Spring retainer



Sept. 28, 1937. w. w. NASH 2,694,182

SPRING RETAINER Filed Sept. 3, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZNVENTOR.

Win/AM W. NASH w BY ATTORNEY.

Sept. 28, 1937. w. w. NASH 2,094,182

SPRING RETAINER Filed Sept. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

INVENTOR.

Min/4M M/ NASH ATTORNEY.

tools to properly do the job.

Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES warm PATENT OFFIE SPRING RETAINER Application September 3, 1936, Serial N0. 99,267

11 Claims.

This invention relates. to a spring assembly and. more particularly to a spring assembly for use in spring counter-balancers of the character employed for suspending portable power operated tools, and other loads, from overhead supports.

A serious objection to these counter-balancers as heretofore manufactured is the inability to properly assemble the fiat coiled springs with which these devices are equipped. These springs when they are manufactured are wound to a predetermined size and a wire or clip is applied about each spring to hold it in coiled form so that the spring may be shipped, stored and handled. The springs are usually wound to a diameter approximately one-quarter of an inch smaller than the containers which receive them. In applying a spring to its container, the spring is first started into the container, and then by pressure either mechanically or manually imposed is forced into the container and at the same time the holding clip or wire is removed to free the spring for expansion into contact with the surrounding Wall of the container. When this occurs the expanding spring strikes the container wall with considerable impact and frequently the spring in unwinding flies out of the container with injury to the Workman who is inserting the spring. Serious injuries have resulted from these spring inserting operations, the hazard being greater with the heavier springs which are employed in balancers for raising and handling heavy loads, such as portable tools.

These hazards are also present in spring removing operations. These springs only have a certainfatigue life, and when they fail or break in service must be removed and new springs applied. It is a hazardous operation to remove a spring and in many cases a rather difficult one because with these balancer devices distributed throughout the industry, and in many cases in isolated places, the operator who attempts a spring removing task is not only frequently lacking in experience, but is without the necessary The general purpose and object of my invention-is to provide a retainer which not only fits about the spring tohold it in coiled form while being shipped, stored and handled, but provides a mounting for the spring in its container, and is removed with the spring from the container on replacing the spring. The retainer keeps the spring in coiled form at all' times and prevents the spring from unwinding or flying out of the retainer or the container to do injury as hereto-fore.

The retainer in accordance with my invention is fitted about the spring following the fabrication of the spring and constitutes an integral part of the spring assembly, not to be removed. The spring fits against the inner periphery of the 5 retainer ring, and is held thereby in coiled form. In applying the spring to a container, the assembled spring and retainer are simply inserted into the opening in the container and the job is complete, no opportunity being afforded for the spring to uncoil and fly out as the spring is not released from its retainer as heretofore. Should the spring break while it is wound in tension, the spring will expand to the surrounding wall of the retainer ring and in that position can be easily 15 and readily removed withthe ringand be discarded. Each timea spring breaks or fails a new retainer ring and'spring assembly is provided.

Also in accordance with my invention the retainer ring is connected with the container when inserted therein to anchor the spring to the container for turning the container in one direction when the spring is tensioned. The connection be--' tween the ring and the container is a releasable one so that the spring and ring assembly may be readily and easily applied to and removed from the container. This connection also provides a pivotal mounting for the ring in the container, whereby the ring will shift eccentrically on winding up the spring to dispose the spring for concentric winding about its tensioning means. Also the ring in shifting frees the spring from the safety look if the container is so equipped.

The invention consists further in the features hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a sectional View with parts in elevation of a balancer device equipped with the retainer ring and spring assembly of my invention, said section being taken on line l---! of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view looking into the drum or reel of the balancer of Fig. 1 and showing the spring and retainer assembly in the drum in elevation, the spring being in tension;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the spring and retainer assembly immediately following its insertion into saiddrum or reel and before the spring is wound up to tension it; i

Fig. 4 is aside view of the retainer ring;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view with parts in elevation taken on line 55 of Fig. 3 to show the position of the spring before it is tensioned' with respect to the safety lock for the drum;

F g. 10 is a sectional view taken on line I0Ii of Fig. 2.

In Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, I indicates the spring container and 2 indicates the flat coiled spring in said container. The latter in the embodiment shown constitutes the drum or reel of a spring counter-balancer of the character heretofore referred to. The drum l is mounted for rotation on a shaft 3 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is journaled in a casing 4 which houses the drum. This casing, in accordance with the depicted balancer design, comprises a main or body section 5 fitting about the drum I and a removable cover section 6 which is secured in place by one or more cap screws 1 as in structures of this kind.

The drum I has its peripheral portion 8 provided with a spiral groove 9 to receive a cable Ii). The cable has its inner end secured to the larger end of the drum and its outer end is exterior of the drum for connection With the load to be raised and lowered by the drum. A hook or equivalent means (not shown) is secured to the outer end of the cable for the attachment of the load.

In the balancer shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, the spring 2 is located within the drum and has its outer end connected to-the drum and its inner end anchored to a sleeve II keyed on the shaft 3. The shaft 3 is turned to Wind up the spring through a worm gear assembly at one end of the shaft. This worm gear comprises a worm wheelIZ fixed to the shaft and a worm I3 journaled in the casing 4. The worm is in constant mesh with the worm wheel and is accessible for turning from the exterior of easing 4 in the manner disclosed in the R. A. Norling Patent No. 1,926,452, granted September 12, 1933. The tension of the spring 2 is adjusted to counter balance the load served by the balancer device. The shaft 3 is normally held against rotation by the worm gear assembly.

The balancer casing 4 is equipped with a hook or equivalent means (not shown) for suspending the balancer from an overhead support. The spring 2 when tensioned turns the drum I in a direction to wind up the cable on the drum. Thus, the tool attached to the cable may be raised and lowered as desired and be maintained in a lifted position out of the way when not in use. The cable extends out of the drum casing i through a suitable opening therein.

The spring retainer of my invention comprises a metal or other rigid ring member I4 which is fitted about the spring 2 following its fabrication for holding the spring in coiled form as shown in Fig. 3. The spring fits against the inner periphery of the ring and these parts constitute an integral assembly for handling, storage, shipment, and application to and removal from the container I. The latter is open at one end to receive the spring and ring assembly and has acircular recess I5 to accommodate the same.

This recess is slightly larger in diameter than the ring so that the ring may shift with respect to the container I on Winding up the spring for the purposes to be presently described.

The outer end of the spring 2 is anchored to the ring I4 and the ring, when mounted in the container, is anchored to the container for connecting the spring thereto. The ring I4 has a notch I6 in its inner periphery for interconnection with the outer end of the spring, the spring end being in hook form to engage in the notch as shown at H.

The container I has a pin or lug I8 in the recess I5 to enter an aperture or hole I9 in the retainer ring on inserting the latter with the spring into the container. This facilitates mounting the spring and ring assembly in the container and also provides a releasable connection between the ring and the container. The ring I4 is held against accidental displacement off of the pin I8 by a cover plate 28 which closes the open end of the container I and has an in- Wardly extending portion 2i terminating closely adjacent to the ring. The pin and aperture connection between the ring I4 and the container is detailed in Fig. 10. Cap screws 22 may be employed for securing the cover plate 20 to the drum. The ring It fits against a shoulder Ia provided in the drum at the base of the recess I5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10. The pin I8 extends from this shoulder as indicated in Fig. 10.

The inner end of the spring 2 is interconnected with the sleeve II through a slot 23 therein as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This slot opens through the ends of the sleeve so that the spring end may be readily and easily interconnected with the sleeve on inserting the spring and retainer assembly in the drum.

When the spring assembly is inserted into the drum the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3. The ring I4 is mounted on the pin I8 and the non-tensioned spring fits against the inner periphery or wall of the retainer ring I4. It will be noted that the aperture I9 is oif-set circumferentially from the point of connection of the spring with the ring. Thus, when the sleeve II is turned by the shaft 3 to tension the spring, the coils of the spring are drawn to the center, placing a definite pull on the ring I4 at its point of connection with the spring 2. The force exerted on the ring I4 causes the ring to move in an eccentric manner about the pivotal connection afiorded by the pin I8. This eccentric movement of the ring It continues until the ring contacts with the wall of the recess I5 opposite the safety lock to be presently described and continued winding up of the spring causes its coils to Wind more or less concentrically about the sleeve II. This has the advantage of relieving the tensioned spring of undue strain and a longer spring life is assured. The position of the parts when the spring is tensioned is shown in Fig. 2.

Should the spring 2 while in service break or fail for any reason, it may be readily and easily removed from the drum I by merely lifting out the retainer ring I4. The ineffective spring merely expands to the inner periphery or wall of the ring I4 and the spring comes out of the drum I with the retainer ring. At no time is the spring freed from its retainer and flying out of the spring by uncoiling is completely avoided. Manifestly, the spring applying and removing operations with my spring and retainer assembly are safe and not hazardous as heretofore and, moreover, the construction aifords an easy and quick means for applying a spring to and removing it from its container.

Another advantage of shifting the ring I4 with respect to the container is that the spring will free the safety lock of the container for operation by the spring on breaking or release of the spring while in service. The safety lock inv the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, comprises a pivoted lever 24 carried by the drum I at one side of the spring 2. This lever has an angled end 25 to project over the outer periphery of the spring 2 when wound up as shown in Fig. 1. The lever is located adjacent the connection of the spring with the ring I4 so as to be at the widest space afforded between the spring and the ring when the spring is wound up. When the spring breaks or fails, the expanding spring strikes the lever and forces it outwardly from the spring.

This movement projects a spring biased plunger 26 outwardly from the drum I into one of the holes 21 in the drum casing 4, as. shown in the drawings. This looks the drum against rotation and prevents dropping of the load carried by the drum. -With the spring fitting against the ring I4 when inserting the spring into the drum, the: outer periphery of the spring is adjacent the outer end of the lever 24 and the latter is in position shown in Fig. 5 holding the drum against rotation. When the spring is tensioned, the shifting of the ring moves the outer coil of the spring inwardly from the lever so that the plunger 26 may project the angled end of the lever over the outer periphery of the spring as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The holes 21 are arranged concentrically about the axis of the drum.

When the single spring balancer of Fig. 1 is converted into a double spring device, as shown in Figs. 6 to 9, a container 28 is applied to the drum I for the additional spring marked 29. The container 28 is secured to the larger end of the drum I by fasteners 30 and provides a housing for the additional spring. The safety lock for this container comprises a springbiased plunger 3! which co-acts with lugs or teeth 32 in the balancer housing 33 as shown. The plunger 3| operates radially of the container 28 and is struck by the outer coil of the spring 29 on breaking or releasing. This spring is equipped with a retainer ring 34 the same as before. The ring and the spring provide an integral assembly and a pin and aperture connection is provided between the ring and the container 28 as before. When the spring assembly is inserted in the container 23 the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 7., The non-tensioned spring engages the plunger 3| as shown. When the spring is tensioned as shown in Fig. 6, the ring shifts or pivots as before, and the spring is carried away from the plunger as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

In Fig. l, the spring 2 is located between side plates to prevent buckling of the spring. ,The inner plate 35 is carried by and rotates with the drum I and has a peripheral slot 36 for the angled end of the lever 24. The other plate for the spring may be the cover plate 20. The lever 24 is carried by the inner plate 35, being pivoted between lugs on the cover plate as shown.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the spring 29 is bounded at its sides by plates, one of which is shown at 31. This plate fits against and rotates with the container 23. The other plate, marked 31' fits over the open end of the drum I to which the container 28 is secured. This plate is arranged between the drum and the container and rotates with the entire assembly. In the double spring balancer, the safety lock 24- 21 is retained for thedrum spring 2, while the plunger 3| constitutes the safety lock for the added spring 29.

When converting the single spring balancer into a double spring one, the shaft 3 is replaced by a longer one to serve both springs, and a sleeve is keyed to the shaft for. the second spring. The sleeve II is retained for the spring 2, and when the shaft is turned to tension the springs, both springs will be Wound up. The retainer ring 34 for the second spring has a notch in its inner periphery so that the outer end of the spring may be interconnected with said ring. This construction is the same as before and the same reference characters are employed to indicate like parts. Any suitable means may be employed for holding the ring 34 on its pin I8. In the particular embodiment shown, this comprises a ringlike member 38 carried by and extending inwardly from the plate 31' toward the ring 34, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The member 38 may be riveted to the plate 3'! and holds the ring 34 on its pin I8. The container 28 has a shoulder 28a from which the pin extends and functioning in the same manner as the shoulder la. in the balancer construction of Fig. 1.

The retainer ring I4 is enlarged at its notch It so as to better accommodate the notch and also to strengthen the ring at the notch against the pull of the spring when under tension. The same construction is embodied in the ring 34. The inner end of the flat coiled spring 29 is anchored to its sleeve in the same manner shown for the spring 2. r

The details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, except as pointed out in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spring assembly of the character described, comprising a flat coiled spring, and a retainer ring fitting about the spring for holding the spring in coiled form While being shipped, stored and handled, said ring providing a mounting for the spring in a container to receive the spring and having a recess to releasably connect the ring to the container, whereby the assembled spring and retainer may be readily applied to and be removed from the container without separating the spring from the ring, said spring having its outer end interconnected with a notch in the inner periphery of the retainer ring.

2. A spring assembly of the character described, comprising a flat coiled spring, and a retainer ring fitting about the spring for holding the spring in coiled form while being shipped, stored and handled, said ring providing a mounting for the spring in a container to receive the spring and having a recess to releasably connect the-ring to the container, whereby the assembled spring and ring may be readily applied to and be removed from the container without separating the spring from the ring, said spring having its outer end interconnected with a notch in the inner periphery of the ring, said notch being offset circumferentially from the recess in the ring.

3. In a balancer of thecharacter described, a rotatable drum, a coiled spring for turning the drum in one direction, means for winding up the spring for adjusting the tension thereof, a retainer about the spring, said spring having its inner end interlocked with said adjusting means and its outer end interlocked with said retainer,

and means for anchoring the retainer to the drum for connecting the spring thereto, said anchoring means providing a releasable connection between the retainer and the drum, whereby the assembled spring and retainer may be applied to and be removed from the drum without separating the spring from the retainer.

4. In a balancer of the character described, a rotatable drum, a coiled spring for turning the drum in one direction, means for winding up the spring for adjusting the tension thereof, a retainer about the spring, said spring having its inner end interlocked with said adjusting means and its outer end interlocked with said retainer, and means for anchoring the retainer to the drum for connecting the spring thereto, said anchoring means providing a pivotal mounting for the retainer whereby the retainer will shift eccentrically on winding up of the spring to dispose the spring for concentric winding about the adjusting means.

5. In a balancer of the character described, a rotatable drum, a coiled spring for turning the drum in one direction, means for winding up the spring for adjusting the tension thereof, a retainer about the spring, said spring having its inner end interlocked with said adjusting means and its outer end interlocked with said retainer, a safety lock operable by the spring on breaking or releasing for holding the drum against rotation, and means for anchoring the retainer to the drum for connecting the spring thereto, said anchoring means providing a pivotal mounting for the retainer, whereby the retainer will shift eccentrically on winding up of the spring to dispose the spring for concentric winding about the adjusting means and free the safety lock for operation by the spring.

6. In a balancer of the character described, a rotatable drum, a coiled spring for turning the drum in one direction, means for winding up the spring for adjusting the tension thereof, a retainer about the spring, said spring having its inner end anchored to said adjusting means and its outer end anchored to said retainer, a pivoted lever carried by the drum and having an angled end projectible over the outer periphery of the spring, means for anchoring the retainer to the drum for connecting the spring thereto and providing a pivotal mounting for the retainer, whereby the retainer will shift eccentrically on winding up of the spring to dispose the spring for concentric winding about the adjusting means and free the spring from the angled end of said lever, and a spring biased plunger operable by the lever on the breaking or releasing of the spring to hold the drum against rotation.

'7. In combination with a revoluble container having a spring receiving recess, a coiled spring located in said recess for turning the container in one direction, means for winding up the spring for tensioning the same, a retainer ring fitting in said recess about the spring, said spring having its inner end anchored to said adjusting means and its outer end anchored to said retainer ring, and means for anchoringthe retainer ring to the container for connecting the spring thereto and providing a pivotal mounting for the retainer ring in said recess, said recess being larger in diameter than the retainer ring and said pivotal mounting being off-set circumferentially from the connection between the spring and the ring, whereby the ring on the winding up of the spring by the adjusting means will shift eccentrically to dispose the spring for concentric winding about the adjusting means.

8. A spring retainer of the character described, comprising a ring member to fit about a flat coiled spring for holding the same in coiled form while being shipped, stored and handled, said ring member having a notch in its inner periphery for anchoring a spring to the ring and a recess offset circumferentially from the notch for mounting the ring in a container with the spring.

9. A spring retainer of the character described, comprising a ring member to fit about a flat coiled spring for holding the same in coiled form while being shipped, stored and handled, said ring member, having a notch in its inner periphery for anchoring a spring to the ring and a recess offset circumferentially from the notch for mounting the ring in a container with the spring, said ring member being enlarged in its portion at the notch to accommodate the same and to strengthen the ring at the notch.

10. In combination with a revoluble container having a spring receiving recess, a fiat coiled spring located in said recess for turning the container in one direction, means for winding up the spring for tensioning the same, a retainer ring fitting in said recess about the spring, said spring having its inner end anchored to said adjusting means and its outer end anchored to said retainer ring, a pin fixed to the container in said recess and engaging an aperture in the retainer ring for mounting the ring with the spring in the container, and means associated with the container for holding the ring on said pin.

11. In combination with a revoluble container having a spring receiving recess opening through one end of the container, a fiat coiled spring located in said recess for turning the container in one direction, means for winding up the spring for tensioning the same, a retainer ring fitting in said recess about the spring, said spring having its inner end anchored to said adjusting means and its outer end anchored to said retainer ring, a pin fixed to the container in said recess and engaging an aperture in the ring for mounting the ring with the spring in the recess, and a cover plate secured to the container over the open end of said recess and having an inwardly extending portion terminating close to the ring for holding the ring on the pin.

WILLIAM W. NASH. 

